DIFFERENT STROKES

DIFFERENT STROKES

In today’s ( 28th January 2015 )  THE HINDU newspaper an article by Mr.Kolkar Mahabub Ali, speaks about ‘Different Strokes’. This is nothing but a simple stimuli managers use to motivate team members.

Dr. Eric Berne calls a stroke ‘ a unit of human recognition’.

A stroke can be verbal or non-verbal.

Positive strokes enhance an employee’s sense of self worth.

In their book, ‘The One Minute Manager’ , Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson said “catching the employees doing something right and instantaneously praising their behavior” would greatly motivate them.

I wish to say that this technique is “An old wine in a new bottle”. Because these kind of different strokes was told to me by my dad, about his own experiences in 1950s’ and 1960s’. He was working as a technician in Richardson & Cruddas, an European engineering company, managed by European Managers and later by Indian Managers, who followed the tradition of their predecessors in giving ‘different strokes’ to their employees. My dad used to say that while on duty, if any manager just stroked the shoulder of an employee, on their routine visits to shop floor, it is a guarantee that he will get a special increment in his salary! He too got such from his superiors.  I am attaching a photo of his mentor, Mr.H.V.Krishnaswamy, who is still in touch with me after my father’s demise. I too have learnt many good things from him.

My dad Mr.M.Devarajan

M/S M.A.Krishnamurthy, F.C.Mathias,H.M.Sonu Rao, Sundaram, R.C.Ramaswamy,H.V.Krishnaswamy & R.N.Vadival - mentors of my dad and mine too in R&C.

My dad's and my mentor Mr.H.V.Krishnaswamy

As I was also an employee in the same organization, I have my own experience of the ‘different stroke’ from my boss, Mr.A.K.Mudgal. If I finish an assignment given to me on time, he appreciates with small mementos like key chain or by verbal greetings.

My mentor in R&C Mr.A.K.Mudgal

It happened to me in Greaves Cotton from my mentors, Mr.R.Venkatachari, Mr.J.P.Dhawan, Mr.K.Balasubramanian, Mr.S.Girishkumar, Mr.A.A.Perera, Mr.K.G.Diwakar and Mr.Mainik Basu. I would have missed few others too.

Mr.J.P.Dhawan

In Schwing Stetter, where I completed my last tenure of employment, I had the same experience of different strokes from many of my mentors, from the top management to my immediate bosses. I wish to name them here: Mr.A.Sundaresan,Mr.M.Subramanian, Mr.A.R.Subramanian, Mr.V.G.Sakthikumar, Mr.S.Seenivasan ,Mr.Bisweswar Patra, Mr.K.Sethuraman, Mr.S.Vijay Babu .HR Head ,Mr.K.V.R.Kishore Babu’s style of ‘stroke’ is 5 Star chocolate and motivational books. I am proud to say that I am one such recipient!

Mr.A.Sundaresan

Mr.M.Subramanian

Mr.A.R.Subramanian

Mr.Bisweswar Patra

Mr.S.S.Seenivasan

Mr.V.G.Sakthikumar

Mr.K.Sethuraman

Mr.S.Vijay Babu

Mr.K.V.R.Kishore Babu

My conclusion is, 60 years back, no big management books or seminars to attend by a common employee and no training classes. But the rich experience, the then managers had from their mentors, made them to give ‘DIFFERENT STROKES’ to their team as an instant appreciation.

I attach one of my dad's and few of my mentor's ( of all the three great organisations I served )  photo here and miss few as I do not have in my archive.

I believe strongly that many others also  would have similar 'stroke' experiences like me. 

I appreciate  Mr.Kolkar Mahabub Ali for bringing to lime light , the simple stimuli mechanism of appreciation, to the young managers of present generation. 

My passion and Dr.Eugene Alcalay's Piano Recital in Museum Theatre, Chennai.

My passion towards Western Classical  Music and International Pianist Dr.Eugene Alcalay’s  performance  at Museum Theatre, Egmore, Chennai on 21^st Jan.2015.

Interest or passion or whatever  it may be, Western Music gave me a deeper impact in music ,since I saw the Movie “ The Sound of Music “  in 1965. A tuneful, heartwarming story, it is based on the real life story of the Von Trapp Family singers, one of the world's best-known concert groups in the era immediately preceding World War II. Julie Andrews plays the role of Maria, the tomboyish postulant at an Austrian abbey. Christopher Plummer as Captain Georg von Trapp. 

Do-Re-Mi song from the movie inspired me and many who does not know much about Western  Music, prior to the screening of it.

Now I can say that my passion towards Western Classical  took a journey since then, when I was 13. Of course pop music of those times, Beatles, Elvis Presley , Donna Summer,  Abba , Boney M,  Tom Jones, Engelbert Humperdink,  Michael Jackson and many other diverted my attention from Western Classical. But the inner love towards my original passion ignited my quest to listen few audio cassettes gifted by my  youngest brother, who was a student of Master Dhanraj, a great Pianist and Music Teacher in Mylapore.  South Indian  Music Maestro Ilayaraja has learnt guitar from him. The titles includes : Henry Mancini, Strauss, Franz Von Suppe, Budapest Philarmonic Orchestra conducted by Janos Sandor, George Fredic Handel, Beethovan Collection Symphony No.5, and  Tchaikovsky.

My daughter and son knows my love in Western Classical and gifts cassettes of my liking and asked me to listen in their absence ( on the lighter side ). But now my daughter learns Guitar in Iowa. My hectic work schedules preoccupied my personal space  so long and missed  many  concerts. But at last now , after retirement, I experience “ The Joy Of Not Working “ . This is the title of a book by  Ernie J.Zelinsky, and  I gifted  a copy of the book , bought and sent from US by my daughter, exclusively for him,  to my  mentor in my last employment.

My present collections are in the photo and I listen to one at least  daily. My daughter sent from abroad a pair of CD – Essential GUITAR Masterpieces featuring Legends Andres Segovia, John Williams, Juian Bream, Pepe Romera, Paco Pena and more of 35 collections.  My CD collections includes : George Greshwin ( 1898-1937 ), Leonard Brenstein ( 1918-1990 ) and Richard Wagner ( 1813-1883 ).

Coming to Dr.Eugene Alcalay’s biography, he is a native of Bucharest, Romania, playing piano at the age of two and composed at the age of eight. He became the first recipient of The Lenard Bernstein Scholarship at Indiana University School of Music, continued his graduation and Masters and finished his Doctoral degree in Piano Performance at The Juillard  School.  Currently he is an Associate Professor of Piano at University of Wisconsin-Platteville. His CD “ Lyrical Liszt” was released in 2008.

Yesterday’s  amazing recital  of Dr.Alcalay was an enchanting programme of four oldest compositions by : Georgw Frideric Handel ( 1685-1750 ) –Suite in G minor, Franz Schubert ( 1797-1828 ) – Sonata in C minor, Ludwing Van Beethovan ( 1770-1827 ) – Sonata in D major and Franz Liszt ( 1821-1886 ) – Les Preludes Symphonic Poem no.3  and  presented  three more  encores while closing with a loud applause.

The complete  600 odd seats of Musium Theatre ( established in 1851 ) was in full house with music lovers, admirers, learners ( like me ), instrument players and members of Chennai Western Music Association. The Piano courtesy – Musee Musical, Chennai ) . Dr.Alcalay was honored and felicitated in the closing ceremony. Pin drop silence was maintained in the hall of --- people . You may view many of his recitals in YouTube  and I too wish to post a short piece in my site. A great opportunity for Chennaites was used well  by many music  enthusiast.

 Long live Dr.Eugene Alcalay and his music.